Tidal responsive barrier

ABSTRACT

A tidal barrier is provided that may be selectively deployed in response to tidal changes. The tidal barrier includes a net having a tensile, membrane with an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge has a plurality of anchor points for affixing the lower edge to a seabed below a body of water. The tidal barrier further includes a bladder affixed to the upper edge and having a valve for selectively inflating and deflating the bladder. The bladder has a sufficient volume to cause the upper edge of the membrane to rise to a surface of the body of water when the volume is inflated with a gas. A pump is disposed in proximity to the tensile membrane and is in fluid communication with the valve of the bladder. The pump has a controller for selectively prompting the pump to inflate and deflate the bladder with the gas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 12/541,535 filed Aug. 14, 2009, which isincorporated herein b\ reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for protectingshorelines or urban areas along waterways against periodic high waterlevels associated with tidal surges or high level floodwaters. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a tidal responsivebarrier that includes a collapsible high-strength tensile membraneanchored at a bottom end to a sea or river bed and having bladders in atop end of the membrane, where the bladders may be selectively inflatedto cause the leading edge of the membrane to rise to the surface of thesea or rive water (e.g., in response to a tidal change) such that themembrane stretches from the sea or river bed to the water surface and towater's edge where the membrane is anchored to structural pylons.

The principle threat of flooding in the next century is not necessarilyfrom the rise in the sea level itself, but from the increase in extremesduring high tides and storms which create breaches of existing flooddefenses for relatively brief periods. Permanent levees, jetties orgroins have been previously employed to protect shorelines and offersome protection against such periodic extremes in high tides or storms;however, these devices typically comprise concrete blocks, rip-rap orother heavy weighted, fortifying materials that are permanent structuresthat do not enable passage of marine vehicles, inhibit natural marineecosystems, inhibit full enjoyment of the region of the shoreline andare expensive to build and deploy.

One prior art groin structure that utilizes a floating mesh net securedto a seabed for protecting a shore line is described in US PublicationNo. US 2005/0036839. This prior art groin structure employs floatationsupports such as air filled bladders, polyethylene floats or othermaterials to stretch the mesh net between the seabed and a low tidelevel 36. At high tide levels the mesh net of the groin structure iscompletely immersed in the water and thus, not capable of effectivelyinhibiting periodic extreme tidal changes or surges from flooding theshoreline. Moreover, the disclosed prior art groin structure isdisclosed as being permanently deployed, which presents similar problemsfor inhibiting passage of marine vehicles, marine life, and the fullenjoyment of the region of the shoreline where the groin structure isdeployed.

Thus, there is a need for a tidal barrier that overcomes the problemsnoted above and is responsive to periodic high water levels associatedwith tidal surges or high level floodwaters to protect shorelines orurban areas along waterways from such periodic high water levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatuses, systems and methods consistent with the present inventionprovide a tidal responsive barrier that is lightweight andenvironmentally sensitive system designed to protect urbanized areasbordering inland waterways from periodic high water levels associatedwith tidal surges or high level floodwaters. The tidal responsivebarrier operates on organic principles of buoyancy and the structuralefficiency associated with tensile net membranes. A tidal responsivebarrier consistent with the present invention may be manufactured andimplemented in a local water way at substantially less cost thanpermanent levees and localized flood protection structures withoutcompromising ecology and commerce of these water areas.

In accordance with apparatus consistent with the present invention, atidal barrier provided that is responsive to tidal changes. The tidalbarrier comprises a net having a tensile membrane. The tensile membranehas an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge has a plurality ofanchor points for affixing the lower edge to a seabed below a body ofwater. The tidal barrier also includes a bladder affixed to the upperedge and having a valve for selectively inflating and deflating thebladder. The bladder has a sufficient volume to cause the upper edge ofthe membrane to rise to a surface of the body of water when the volumeis inflated with a gas. The tidal barrier further includes a pumpdisposed in proximity to the tensile membrane and in fluid communicationwith the valve of the bladder. The pump has a controller for selectivelyprompting the pump to inflate and deflate the bladder with the gas.

In one implementation, the tidal barrier net further comprises aplurality of interior cables that extend between the lower edge and theupper edge of the tensile membrane so that the interior cables reinforcethe tensile strength of the tensile membrane when the volume of thebladder is inflated and the upper edge of the membrane iscorrespondingly caused to rise to the surface of the body of water.

The tidal barrier may also include a plurality of pylons, each of whichis anchored relative to the seabed and extending a predetermined heightabove the surface of the body of water when the body of water is at apredetermined depth. In this implementation, the tidal harrier netfurther comprises a top cable affixed to and running a length of theupper edge of the tensile membrane. The top cable has one end attachedto one pylon and another end attached to another pylon so that, when thevolume of the bladder is inflated and the upper edge of the membrane iscorrespondingly caused to rise to the surface of the body of water, theupper edge of the tensile membrane extends from the one pylon to otherpylon in an arc defined by a current of the body of water. In thisimplementation, when the water level of the body of water on one side ofthe net rises with the current, the upper edge of the tensile membranecorrespondingly rises causing the tensile membrane to form a catenaryarc in the direction of the current such that the rise in water level isinhibited from passing beyond the one side of the net.

In another implementation, the tidal barrier may further comprise a tankin fluid communication between the pump and the valve of the bladder. Inthis implementation, the pump is adapted to pump an amount of gas forinflating the volume of the bladder into the tank for storage. The tankhas an output valve adapted to release the stored amount of gas to thebladder in response to an input.

In another implementation, the pump may include a piston adapted tocompress air (as the gas) to the tank when the piston is actuated and afloatation device disposed in the body of water where the tidal barrieris disposed. The floatation device is connected to the piston such thatthe floatation device actuates the piston in response to tidal changesin the level of the body of water.

In another implementation, the tidal barrier may include anelectromagnetic floatation generator for powering the pump. Theelectromagnetic floatation generator includes: an internal chamberhousing a conductive coil having an end electrically connected to thepump; a floatation system having a floatation assembly that floats onthe surface of the body of water; an external chamber connected to thefloatation system such that the floatation system causes the externalchamber to fluctuate up and down in response to wave action in the bodyof water where the generator is disposed, and a permanent magnetdisposed on an interior wall of the external chamber. The externalchamber encases and moves relative to at least a portion of the internalchamber housing the coil so that at least a portion of the coileffectively moves within a magnetic field produced by the magnet as theexternal chamber fluctuates up and down in response to wave action inthe body of water to generate a current in the coil for powering thepump.

In another implementation, the pump may be connected to and powered by asolar generator or wind turbine disposed at or above the surface of thebody of water where the tidal barrier is disposed.

In another implementation, the tidal barrier may include a continuousconcrete footing system disposed along the seabed to anchor andsubstantially seal the lower edge of the tensile membrane along the seabed floor.

In another implementation, the tidal barrier further comprises ameasurement buoy tank operatively configured to float on the surface ofthe water at a predetermined distance from the tidal barrier net formonitoring high tide levels. The measurement buoy tank includes a tidalelevation sensor operatively configured to sense and output a tidallevel change; a wireless transmitter; and a controller operativelyconnected to the sensor and the wireless transmitter. The controller isprogrammed to receive the tidal level change output from the sensor,determine whether the output exceeds a predetermined threshold, andtransmit an alarm signal, via the wireless transmitter, when thepredetermined threshold is exceeded. In this implementation, the pumpincludes a wireless receiver that is operatively configured to receivethe alarm signal from the transmitter and output a corresponding alarmsignal to the pump controller. In response to receiving thecorresponding alarm signal, the pump controller activates the pump toinflate the bladder. The pump may also include a marine vessel warningsystem and the pump controller activates the marine vessel warningsystem to signal immanent deployment of the tidal barrier in response toreceiving the corresponding alarm signal from the wireless receiver.

In another implementation, the bladder is one of a plurality ofbladders, each of which is affixed along the upper edge of the tensilemembrane. Each bladder has a respective volume to collectively cause theupper edge of the membrane to rise to a surface of the body of waterwhen the volume of each bladder is inflated with a gas. In thisimplementation, the tidal barrier further comprises a manifold and astorage tank. The manifold has an input and a plurality of outputs. Eachmanifold output is in fluid communication with a respective one of thebladders, for example, via respective flexible piping. The tank is influid communication (e.g., via a flexible pipe) between the pump of thetidal barrier and the manifold input. In this implementation, the pumpis adapted to pump an amount of gas for inflating the volume of eachbladder into the tank for storage, and the tank has an output valveadapted to release the stored amount of gas to the bladders via themanifold in response to an input.

In each implementation, the valve of the bladder may have a controlinput for controlling the opening of the valve, and the pump controllermay be operatively connected to the control input to open the valve todeflate the bladder in response to an input signal reflecting that athreat of a tidal change in the body of water has passed. When thebladder is deflated at least a portion of the upper edge of the tensilemembrane drops to rest on the seabed.

Other apparatus, systems, methods, features, and advantages of thepresent invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill inthe art upon examination of the following figures and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional methods, systems,features, and advantages be included within this description, be withinthe scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the presentinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theadvantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary tidal barrier consistentwith the present invention, where the tidal barrier is shown in annon-deployed state.

FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the tidal barrier as depicted inFIG. 1, where a portion of the tidal barrier of FIG. 1 comprising ahigh-strength tensile membrane is shown in the non-deployed state inaccordance with the present invention, resting on the seabed in the bodyof water in which the tidal barrier is installed;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tidal barrier of FIG. 1, where the tidalbarrier is shown in an non-deployed state;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the tidal barrier of FIG. 1, where thetidal barrier is shown in a deployed state;

FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the tidal barrier as depicted inFIG. 1, where the high-strength tensile membrane of the tidal barrier isshown in the deployed state in accordance with the present invention,extending between the seabed and the surface of the body of water;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tidal barrier of FIG. 1, where the tidalbarrier is shown in a deployed state;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the tidal barrier of FIG. 1,illustrating a bladder embedded in the tensile membrane in fluidcommunication with a tank and a pump of the tidal barrier in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a cut-away portion of the tensilemembrane of the tidal barrier shown in FIG. 5, illustrating oneexemplary structure and material composition of the tensile membraneconsistent with the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the tensile membrane portion shownin FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C depicts a cross-sectional view of a continuous reinforcedconcrete footing that may be placed along the seabed to anchor andsubstantially seal the lower edge of the tensile membrane shown in FIG.5 along, the sea bed floor.

FIG. 60 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a bladder system thatmay be employed in or attached to the tensile membrane in FIG. 5 inaccordance with the present invention, where the bladder system includesa plurality of bladders connected to a manifold that is in fluidcommunication with a storage tank of the tidal barrier forsimultaneously inflating the bladders;

FIG. 7 depicts a pneumatic piston actuator that may be employed as thepump in the tidal barrier to compress air or other gas for inflating thebladder in or attached to the tensile membrane to deploy the tidalbarrier; and

FIG. 8 depicts an electromagnetic floatation generator that may beemployed as a device that provides electricity to a pump that compressesair or other gas for inflating the bladder in or attached to the tensilemembrane to deploy the tidal barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to an implementation in accordancewith methods, systems, and products consistent with the presentinvention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The principle threat of flooding in the next century is not necessarilyfrom the rise in the sea level itself, but from the increase in extremesduring high tides and storms which create breaches of existing flooddefenses for relatively brief periods. A tidal responsive barrierconsistent with the present invention is operatively configured toprevent the peak of extreme tide events while maintaining a naturaltidal exchange between oceans and inland waterways.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an exemplary tidal barrier 100 consistent with thepresent invention, where the tidal barrier 100 is shown in annon-deployed state in which the tidal barrier rests on the seabed 50.FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the tidal harrier 100 in a deployed state, in whichthe tidal barrier 100 is triggered to rise from the seabed 50 inresponse to a threat of a tidal surge to function as a temporary dam andinhibit the rise in water level associated from the tidal surge frompassing beyond the tidal barrier 100 to protect shoreline or urbanizedareas bordering, along the shoreline. FIG. 5 depicts a functional blockdiagram of the components of the tidal barrier 100 utilized to deploy atidal barrier net 102 with a tensile membrane 104 for protecting arespective shoreline and structures on the shoreline from a tidal changeor surge. Although FIGS. 1-5 depict the tidal barrier 100 as beingselectively deployed to span across an inland waterway exposed to theocean and tidal changes from the ocean, a tidal barrier 100 consistentwith the present invention may be installed along other waterways suchas across rivers to protect inland shorelines and structures along theinland shorelines.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the tidal barrier 100 includes a net 102 having atensile membrane 104. The tensile membrane 104 is comprised of amaterial having a tensile strength equal to or greater than 270 ksi(1855 MPa) to provide resistance to forces from tidal changes or surgesas explained in further detail herein. The tensile membrane material maybe recycled rubber or plastic strengthened with steel chords, carbonfiber, high-strength Teflon-coated fabric (e.g., a fabric coated with asynthetic fluorine containing resins or polytetrafluoroethylene toprevent sticking), fabric including polyethylene terephthalate threadscoated with polyvinyl chloride and the like. The tension membrane isreinforced with high-strength stainless steel or carbon fiber cables.All tensile membrane and reinforcing members are corrosion resistant. Asshown in the implementation of the tensile membrane 104 depicted inFIGS. 6A and 6B, the tensile net membrane 104 may comprise a solid sheetor woven threads 402 of recycled rubber or plastic impregnated with orinterwoven with stainless steel wires 404. In this implementation, highstrength stainless steel cables 406 (having a greater diameter andtensile strength than the individual stainless steel wires 404) are alsoembedded in the solid sheet or woven threads 402 of recycled rubber orplastic as shown in FIG. 6B to further reinforce the tensile membrane104. The stainless steel wires 404 and the cables 406 may be interwovenin a grid pattern within the sheet or threads 402 of rubber or plasticmaterial of the tensile membrane 104 as shown in FIG. 6A, where the gridpattern extends the width and length (or to the edges) of the tensilemembrane 104.

The tensile membrane 104 has an upper edge 106 and a lower edge 108. Thelower edge 108 has a plurality of anchor points 110A-110L for affixingthe lower edge 108 to a seabed 50 below a body of water 52. Anchors mainclude pile foundations driven into the seabed floor, groutedhigh-strength cable ground anchors, heavy concrete ballasts, and thelike. In the side views of the tidal barrier shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, aportion of the net 102 and the anchors 110A and 110C are shown throughthe body of water 52 that would otherwise obscure these components ofthe tidal barrier 100.

The net 102 may also include interior cables 112 (that are in additionto or correspond to the cables 406 embedded in the tensile membrane 104)extending between the lower edge 108 and the upper edge 106 of thetensile membrane 104 so that the interior cables 112 reinforce thetensile membrane 104 when the tidal barrier is deployed as describedherein.

In an alternative implementation shown in FIG. 6C, the tensile membrane104 with lower edge 108 may be continuously anchored to the seabed witha continuous reinforced concrete footing system 510. The reinforcedconcrete footing system 510 includes a reinforced concrete footing 512that is formed in a continuous line (513 in FIG. 5) along the seabed 50,where the line 513 defines the position of the lower edge of the tensilemembrane 104. The reinforced concrete footing system 510 furtherincludes a plurality of corrosion-resistant ball and socket joints 514embedded within the footing 512, where each socket 515 of each joint 514defines a respective portion of an opening 516 in the footing 512 andthe openings collectively form a channel or continuous opening 516 alongthe length of the footing 512. The ball 517 retained in the socket 515of a respective joint 514 is affixed to the lower end of one or more ofthe interior cables 112 in the tensile membrane 104 such that the loweredge 108 of the tensile membrane is disposed within the channel orcontinuous opening 516 in the footing 512 such that the lower edge 108of the tensile membrane 104 is substantially sealed to the footing 512inhibiting water from passing beneath the lower edge 108 of the tensilemembrane 104. The ball and socket joints 514 in cooperation with thecontinuous channel or opening 516 enable multi-directional movement ofthe interior cables 112 and the tensile membrane 104. Shear studs 518may be affixed to each socket 515 to further reinforce the anchoring ofthe socket 515 (and, thus the respective ball and socket joint 514)within the concrete material comprising the footing 512. Pile,foundations 519 may be used to support and anchor the continuousreinforced concrete footing 512 to the sea bed 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5 and 6D, the net 102 further includes abladder 114 affixed to the upper edge 106 of the tensile membrane 104 inFIG. 1B, the tidal barrier 100 is in a non-deployed state in which theupper edge 106 and the deflated bladder 114 is blocked from view by thetensile membrane 104 resting on the seabed 50. The bladder may becomprised of rubber, polyethylene, or other material that may beinflated to hold a predetermined volume of air or gas. The bladder 114has a valve (502 in FIGS. 5 and 6D) for selectively inflating anddeflating the bladder 114. The bladder 114 has a sufficient volume tocause the upper edge 106 of the membrane to rise to a surface 54 of thebody of water 52 when the volume of the bladder 114 is inflated with airor other gas.

To deploy the tensile membrane 104, the tidal barrier 100 may include apump 116 (as shown in FIG. 5) disposed in proximity to the tensilemembrane 104 and in fluid communication with the valve 502 of thebladder 114 so that the pump 116 may inflate and deflate the bladder114, either directly or indirectly through a storage tank 118. The pump116 may have a controller 120 operatively configured to prompt a piston122 in the pump 116 to compress air or other gas to inflate the bladder114. The pump may also include a floatation device 504 disposed in thebody of water 52 and connected to the piston 122 such that thefloatation device 504 actuates the piston 122 in response to daily tidalchanges in the level of the body of water 52.

As shown in FIG. 5, a measurement buoy tank 530 may be placed at sea andanchored to stay afloat at a predetermined area of the sea to monitorhigh tidal levels. The measurement buoy tank 530 may include a tidalelevation barometer or sensor 532 operatively configured to sense andoutput a sea elevation or tidal level change. The measurement buoy tank530 may further include a wireless transmitter 534 and a controller 536operatively connected to the sensor 532 and the wireless transmitter534. The controller 536 is programmed via software (e.g., a CPU runninga program stored in a memory device of the controller) or hardware logiccircuits (e.g., via a commercially available Application SpecificCircuit (ASIC) device or programmable logic circuit (PAL)) to: (1)receive the sea elevation or tidal level change output from the sensor532, (2) determine whether the output exceeds a predetermined threshold,and (3) transmit an alarm signal 538, via the wireless transmitter 534,when the predetermined threshold is exceeded. In this implementation,the pump 116 includes a wireless receiver 539 that is operativelyconfigured to receive the alarm signal 538 from the transmitter 532 andoutput a corresponding alarm signal to the pump controller 120. Inresponse to receiving the corresponding alarm signal, the pumpcontroller 120 activates the pump 116 to deploy the tidal barrier 100and activates a marine vessel warning system 540 to signal immanentdeployment of the tidal barrier 100.

The valve 502 of the bladder 114 may have a control input 506 forcontrolling the opening of the valve 502. The pump controller 120 may beoperatively connected to the control input 506 to open the valve 502 todeflate the bladder 114 in response to an input signal reflecting that athreat of a tidal change in the body of water has passed. When thebladder is deflated at least a portion of the upper edge 106 of thetensile membrane 104 drops to rest on the seabed 50 as shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

When a storage tank 118 is employed in the tidal barrier 100, the tank118 is disposed so that the tank 118 is in fluid communication betweenthe pump 116 and the valve 502 of the bladder 114 as shown in FIG. 5. Inthis implementation, the pump 116 is adapted to pump an amount of air orother gas for inflating the bladder 114 into the tank 118 for storage.The tank has an output valve 119 adapted to release the stored, amountof gas in the tank 118 to the bladder 114 in response to an input fromthe pump controller 120 or manual lever (not shown in figures) so thatthe volume of the bladder 114 is filled faster than if air were pumpedby the pump 116. For example, a tank 118 storing compressed air in anamount to fill the bladder 114 to its maximum volume may have a valve119 that when opened releases all the compressed air in the tank to fillthe bladder 114 nearly instantaneously and the upper edge 106 of thetensile membrane 104 rises to the surface 54 of the body of water 52quickly thereafter (e.g., in less than ten minutes). Thus, a tidalbarrier 100 consistent with the present invention is adapted to bedeployed quickly in response to a threat of a tidal change or surge inthe body of water 52.

In one implementation, the bladder 114 is embedded in and along theupper edge of the tensile membrane 104 in this implementation as shownin FIG. 5, the tensile membrane 104 defines a gas passage or flexiblepiping 508 between the valve 502 of the bladder 114 and the tank 118 orpump 116 used to inflate and deflate the bladder 114.

As shown in the figures, the bladder 114 may be one of a plurality ofbladders 114, each of which is affixed along the upper edge 106 of thetensile membrane 104. Each of the bladders 114 may have a respectivevalve 502 connected in series via the passage 508 or flexible piping tothe pump 116 or tank 118. Each bladder 114 has a respective volume tocollectively cause the upper edge 106 of the tensile membrane 104 torise to a surface 54 of the body of water 52 when the volume of eachbladder 114 is inflated with air or other gas via the pump 116 and/orthe tank 118. In this implementation, the pump controller 120 isoperatively configured to prompt the pump piston 122 to inflate anddeflate each bladder 114 with air or other gas.

In an alternative implementation as shown in FIG. 6D, the valve 502 ofeach bladder 114 may be connected in parallel fluid communication withthe pump 116 and/or the tank 118 via a separate passage or flexiblepiping 508. In this implementation, each of the bladders 114 may beinflated and deflated faster than when connected in series to the pump116 and/or the tank 118. In the implementation shown in FIG. 61), amanifold 550 is employed in the tidal barrier 100 to increase the speedof deployment of the tensile membrane 104 of the tidal barrier 100through efficient deployment of air or other gas into individualbladders 114 that collectively comprise a bladder system 552. Themanifold 550 connects to the storage tank 118 with a single flexiblepipe 508 with air or other gas distribution made directly to bladders114 by way of individual flexible piping 508 a-508 c connected to eachbladder 114, in this implementation, air or other gas stored in thestorage tank 118 may be effectively distributed simultaneously to thebladders 114 via the manifold 550 to inflate the bladders 114 andsubsequently deploy the tensile membrane 104.

Pump 116 may be electrically connected to and powered by renewableenergy sources such as a solar generator 520, a wind turbine 522, andthe like. Such renewable energy sources may be disposed at or above thesurface of the body of water where the tidal barrier is disposed.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary pneumatic piston actuator 602 that may beemployed as the pump 116 in the tidal barrier 100 to compress air orother gas for inflating the bladder 114 in or attached to the tensilemembrane 104 to deploy the tidal barrier. The actuator 602 is comprisedof a pneumatic piston 604 connected to a floatation system 606 thatfluctuates up and down in response to wave action in the body of water52 where the actuator 602 is disposed. The floatation system 606includes a floatation assembly 618 that floats on the surface of thewater 52, and a corrosion resistant steel structure 614 that directlyconnects the permanent floatation assembly 618 to the pneumatic piston604 used to compress the air or other gas. A stationarycorrosion-resistant steel cylinder 610 is employed in the actuator 602to house the head 605 of the piston 604 and contain the compressed airor other gas in the interior 611 of the cylinder resulting from theactuation of the piston 604 via the flotation assembly 618. The cylinder610 is anchored to the sea bed via a permanent foundation system 612,which may comprise foundation piles or the like. A value 616 connectsthe interior 611 of the cylinder 610 to a pipe 608 that connects to thestorage tank 118 employed in the tidal barrier 100 for dispensing thecompressed air or gas to the bladder 114 as further described herein. Asshown in FIG. 7, the floatation assembly 618 may surround or be disposedon one side of the cylinder 610 and connect to a shaft 620 of the piston604 that extends out of one end of the cylinder 610. In thisimplementation, when wave action in the body of water 52 occurs, thefloatation assembly 618 actuates the piston 604 within the cylinder 610to compress air or other has (that may be introduced into the cylinderfrom the surrounding atmosphere via an inlet in the cylinder throughwhich the shaft extends) such that the compressed air or gas isdischarged through the valve 616 and the pipe 608 to the storage tank118.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary electromagnetic floatation generator 800that may be used to provide power to the pump 116 in the tidal barrier100 to compress air or other gas for inflating, the bladder 114 in orattached to the tensile membrane 104. Although the electromagneticfloatation generator 800 is described as producing power for the pump116, the generator 800 may be employed to provide power to otherelectrical components of the tidal barrier 100 or other device. Theelectromagnetic floatation generator 800 includes an internal chamber802 comprised of a corrosion-resistant material (such as stainlesssteel) and houses a conductive coil 803 comprised of a metal or metalalloy (such as copper or steel). A cable or wire 804 electricallyconnects the coil 803 to the power supply or input of the pump 116 (notshown in FIG. 8).

One end 805 of the internal chamber 802 is anchored to the seabed 50 viaa concrete pile or attachment to a housing structure for the generator800 as explained in further detail herein.

The electromagnetic floatation generator 800 further includes afloatation system 806 and an external chamber 808 that is connected tothe floatation system 806 such that the floatation system 806 causes theexternal chamber 808 to fluctuate up and down in response to wave actionin the body of water 52 where the generator 800 is disposed. Theexternal chamber 808 is comprised of steel or other corrosion-resistantmaterial. The floatation system 806 includes a floatation assembly 810that floats on the surface 54 of the water 52, and a structure 812comprised of a corrosion-resistant material that directly connects thefloatation assembly 810 to the external chamber 808. The floatationassembly 810 may surround or be disposed on one side of the externalchamber 808.

As shown in FIG. 8, one or more permanent magnets 814 are disposed onone or more interior walls 816 of the external chamber 808. The externalchamber 808 encases or encloses and moves relative to at least a portionof the internal chamber 802 housing the coil 803 so that the magnets 814are cyclically positioned relative to the coil 803. Although the coil803 is actually stationary as the internal chamber 802 is anchored tothe seabed, at least a portion of the coil 803 effectively moves withinor in and out of a magnetic field produced by the magnets 814 as theexternal chamber 808 (and, thus, the magnetic field) fluctuates up anddown in response to wave action in the body of water 52.

The movement of the coil 803 within or in and out the magnetic fieldgenerates a corresponding A/C electrical current in the coil 803 thatflows out of the cable 804 to provide electricity for powering the pump.Although the cable 804 is shown in FIG. 8 as being connected to one endof the coil 804, one wire in the cable 804 may be connected to the oneend of the coil 804 and another wire in the cable 804 may be connectedto the other end of the coil 804 so that both wires in the cable 804connected to ends of the coil 804 may be electrically connected to thepower supply or power inputs of the pump 116 to complete an A/C powercircuit.

In one implementation, the electromagnetic floatation generator 800includes a housing 818 comprised of stainless steel or othercorrosion-resistant material. The housing 818 encases the internalchamber 802, the external chamber 808 and the floatation system 806. Oneend 820 of the housing 818 is anchored to the sea bed 50 via a permanentfoundation system 822 comprised of a steel casing 824 embedded in theseabed 50 with concrete 826 filling the casing 824 to further anchor thecasing 824 and, thus, the generator 800 to the sea bed 50. In thisimplementation, the one end 805 of the internal chamber 802 is affixedto the housing 818 or the casing 822. The housing 818 is perforated withone or more openings 828 allowing water to flow into the housing so thatthe elevation of the water 50 within the housing changes with waveaction resulting in the up and down movement of the floatation system806 and the external chamber 808 with the magnets 814 along a centralaxis 830 of the internal chamber 802 as referenced by the directionalarrow 832 in FIG. 8. The housing 818 may incorporate or be part of thelarger pylon end anchors 124A and 124B for the tidal barrier 100.Multiple electromagnetic floatation generators 800 and steel foundationcasings 822 may be employed in each pylon 124A and 124B. Each housing818 and foundation casing 822 used to anchor the housing 818 areconstructed of steel or other high-strength material of sufficientthickness so the electromagnetic floatation generator 800 is adapted toresist lateral wave action and forces due to the placement of thegenerator 800 in shallow water areas 52.

Returning to FIGS. 1-5, the tidal barrier 100 may also include aplurality of pylons 124A-124B each anchored relative to the seabed 50and extending a predetermined height (h) above the surface 54 of thebody of water 52 when the body of water is at a predetermined depth (d)as reflected in FIG. 2. For example, the predetermined height (d) may bederived based on historical average depth of the body of water 52 andthe predetermined height (h) may be derived based on the averageincrease in the depth of the body of water 52 based on previous orpredicted tidal changes or surges.

In the implementation shown in FIGS. 1-5, two pylons 124A and 124B areemployed and are disposed on opposing sides of the body of water 52 nearthe water's edge or shoreline. In this implementation, the net 102includes a top cable 126 affixed to and running a length of the upperedge 106 of the tensile membrane 104 as best shown in FIGS. 3-4. The topcable 126 has one end 128 attached or anchored to one pylon 124A andanother end 130 attached or anchored to the other pylon 125B so that,when the volume of the bladder 114 (or bladders) is inflated and theupper edge of the membrane 104 is correspondingly caused to rise to thesurface 54 of the body of water 52, the upper edge 106 of the tensilemembrane 104 extends from the one pylon. 124A to other pylon 124B in anarc defined by a current of the body of water 52 (e.g., associated witha tidal change or surge) as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the tidalharrier is deployed as described herein and the water level of the bodyof water on one side 132 of the net 102 rises with the tidal current asshown in FIGS. 3-4, the upper edge 106 of the tensile membrane 104correspondingly rises causing the tensile membrane to form a catenaryarc in the direction of the tidal current (reflected by reference arrow136 in FIG. 4) such that the rise in water level is inhibited frompassing beyond the one side 132 of the net to the other side 134 in theevent that the tidal change or surge causes a rise in the water leveldepth (d) beyond the predetermined height (h) of the pylons 124A and124B resulting in a peak, the deployed tensile membrane 104 of the tidalbarrier 100 will still “shave of” the peak into the inland waterway onthe other side 134 of the net 102.

The principal forces on the tensile membrane 104 result from drag duringdeployment of the net 102 and the tensile membrane 104 as well as thehydrostatic imbalance due to the differential water level (as best shownin FIG. 4) between the one side 132 of the net 102 from which the tidalchange or surge is received (e.g. ocean side) and the other side 134associated with the body of water in the inland waterway which shoresthe tidal barrier 100 protects from the tidal change or surge. Theresulting catenary arc (see FIGS. 3-5) is a direct response to theseapplied forces. The curvature of the net 102 and the tensile membrane104 is derived from the inland waterway entrance depth (d) at the timewhen the tidal change or surge is received at the net 102 and thelocation of the pylons 124A and 124B. Dredging may be required toachieve the optimal drape of the net 102 and the tensile membrane 104for resistance to the tidal change or surge resulting in maximumresistance to load with the least structural materials required for thenet 102 and the tensile membrane 104

Accordingly, when sensors (not shown in the figures) indicate theapproach of a threat-level tidal surge, the tidal barrier 100 may bedeployed so that one or more bladders 114 are inflated (via the pump 116or the tank 118), the upper edge 106 of the tensile membrane 104subsequently rises to the surface 54 of the body of water 52, and thetensile membrane 104 is stretched in a catenary arc from the water'sedge (e.g., between pylons 124A and 14B) to the seabed 52. When thetidal change or surge has subsided and the tidal barrier 100 is nolonger needed, the bladder 114 is deflated (e.g., via the pumpcontroller 120) and the tensile membrane 104 (or at least a middleportion thereof) sinks and rests on the seabed 50

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described,it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to berestricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

1. A pump for inflating a bladder in a tidal barrier system disposed ina body of water susceptible to tidal changes, the pump comprising: apiston with a head; a floatation system disposed in the body of waterand connected to the piston such that the floatation system actuates thepiston in response to tidal changes in the body of water; and a cylinderhousing a head of the piston, wherein the cylinder is anchored to thesea bed via a permanent foundation system.
 2. The pump of claim 1,wherein the cylinder housing the head of the piston holds compressed airresulting from the actuation of the piston via the flotation system, thecylinder having a valve for dispensing the compressed air to thebladder, wherein the floatation system includes a floatation assemblythat floats on the surface of the water, and a structure that directlyconnects the floatation assembly to the piston.